Bishop Alexander Carter C.S.S.

Sudbury Catholic Students Strike Gold at Skills Ontario Competition!

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Two Sudbury Catholic District School Board students are bringing home gold medals in the 2021 Skills Ontario Competition! Veronica Zulich, student at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School, achieved gold in the category of cooking while Isaac Chandler, student at Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School, achieved gold in CNC Woodworking. Both students are enrolled in Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs at their schools (Hospitality/Tourism and Green Industries, respectively). The Skills Ontario Competition is Canada’s largest skilled trades competition, and traditionally hosts over 2,400 students each May in Etobicoke. This year, the competition took place virtually. A total of seven Sudbury Catholic students competed in the event either presenting live or by submitting their projects to a panel of judges.

Participating Sudbury Catholic students also included:

  • Brady Van Druenen & Sean Nguyen (St. Charles College – TV/Video)
  • Kyle Nyereyumhuka (St. Charles College – Graphic Design Presentation)
  • Kyra Coutain (St. Charles College – Photography)
  • Rory Lavallee (St. Charles College – Graphic Design Studio Production)

“We are very thrilled with the results of this competition! We are so impressed by the resiliency and determination of all our student competitors, especially considering the year they have endured with last minute schedule changes and change of events,” said Dan Levecque, OYAP and SHSM coordinator for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.

“Congratulations to all of our participating students and especially to our gold medal winners! These achievements are a testament to the hours of hard work and determination from our students and their mentors. We would like to acknowledge teacher mentors Kirk McKee, Mike Sipos and Christina Thompson, as well as community partner Mark Gregorini (Verdicchio Ristorante), for continually supporting our students in exploring and pursuing careers in the Skilled Trades. We would also like to thank and acknowledge Cambrian College for their continued partnership and support,” said Peter Prochilo, Superintendent of School Effectiveness for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board.

“We are so incredibly proud of our students, our educators and their mentors for their achievements in this year’s Skills Ontario competition,” said Joanne Bénard, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. “Their accomplishments are a clear indicator of the effort they each put into their projects and the time they spent preparing for this competition. Through our partnership with Skills Ontario, we value the hands-on learning opportunities focused on skilled trades, pathways and career building that we are able to provide our students. We are also grateful to our educators and community partners for their dedication and mentorship to our students. Congratulations to all Sudbury Catholic students who participated and especially to Veronica and Isaac for their gold medal placements. We wish Veronica good luck on her next stage of competition; we know you will represent Sudbury Catholic with pride!”  

Veronica Zulich will compete in the Skills Canada National Competition on May 28th which will also be held virtually.

Veronica in her chef uniform
Isaac in his Cambrian College shirt
One of Veronica's cooked dishes
Isaac's woodworking piece

Kylie MacGregor Appointed as Student Trustee

Photo of Kylie MacGregor

The Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Kylie MacGregor as a Student Trustee for the 2020-2022 terms. Kylie is a Grade 11 student at Bishop Alexander Carter Catholic Secondary School. Kylie joins her fellow Student Trustee Rosaria Nero. Together, they will represent student voice at the Board table.

Kylie has been involved as a member of the school’s student council and Student Senate since Grade 9. During her time at Bishop, Kylie has helped organize and take part in various school events including the annual Memorial Walk. An advocate for the arts, Kylie has also been a part of several of the school’s drama productions over the years. She has also assisted with the Breakfast club for the past two years. She believes there is a true sense of community at Bishop and enjoys being a voice for her fellow students.

When not at school, Kylie enjoys volunteering at her local parish as a reader, assisting with First Communion and First Reconciliation prep for younger students and at Church teas. Kylie looks forward to graduating secondary school with a Specialist High Skills Major diploma in health and wellness and aspires to be a teacher at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board in the future.

“I am honoured that I was chosen to be student trustee for the next two years for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board,” said Kylie MacGregor, Student Trustee. “This is an excellent learning opportunity and I hope to bring schools together to instill a sense of community within the four Catholic secondary schools. I am also looking forward to bringing student voice to the table.”

“We are fortunate to welcome Kylie MacGregor as our second Student Trustee,” said Michael Bellmore, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. “Her dedication to both her school and her community is truly remarkable and we look forward to her contributions at the Board table.”

Bishop Alexander Carter Students Create Wooden Plaque

Director and student stands with the wooden plaque

Mr. McKee and the students in the Open Doors program created a wooden plaque to represent the Board – displaying our mission, vision, values and our logo. The students, in particular Elliot Hamilton, Shelby Dupuis and Isaac Chandler crafted the plaque and presented it to Superintendent of School Effectiveness Peter Prochilo and Director of Education Joanne Bénard.

The wooden plaque is proudly displayed at the Catholic Education Centre in the main foyer. Thanks to our students for their hard work and creativity – we wish them continued success in the program!

Student Senate Fundraises for Australia!

Student Senate gathers in their funraiser t-shirts

On Wednesday, February 26th, Student Senate members from all four Sudbury Catholic secondary schools helped wait tables at Tony V’s restaurant to raise funds in support of Australian bushfire relief. In addition to cash donations, a percentage of proceeds from meal purchases will be donated to the St. Vincent de Paul Bushfire Appeal to provide food, clothing, and essentials, and recovery support to individuals and families in need. The students raised a total of $1220 ($500 from the restaurant and $720 in cash donations). Thank you to Tony V’s for supporting this fundraiser event!

Sudbury Catholic Students and Staff Participate in National Sweater Day to Combat Climate Change

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Each year on the first Thursday of February, Canadians are asked to turn down their heat and wear sweaters to raise awareness about climate change and energy conservation. Founded by WWF-Canada in 2010, more than a million Canadians have participated in National Sweater Day.

In an effort to combat climate change, Sudbury Catholic Schools participated in this initiative on February 6, 2020. Staff and students at Holy Cross School, St. David School, St. James School, St. Charles College, Marymount Academy, Bishop Alexander Carter C.S.S and the Catholic Education Centre brought their warmest sweaters as schools turned down the heat by 1.5 degrees celsius throughout the school day. Though the change in temperature was nominal; collectively, we as a Board made a statement regarding climate change and its impact on our world.
“National Sweater Day gave our staff and students an opportunity to reflect on how rising global temperatures are impacting the planet and how together we can help to reduce climate change by making small changes in our daily live,” said Joanne Bénard, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. “By making a commitment to the planet on National Sweater Day, students and educators better understand the powerful impact that they can have.”

Sudbury Catholic Students Cast their Vote!

A group of students stand in line by the election booth.

14 schools within the Sudbury Catholic District School Board have registered with the Student Vote Canada program running parallel with the Federal Election. Based on the percentage of schools registered, the Board is in the top 10% of all School Boards within Canada. Student Vote Canada is a program open to all elementary and secondary schools nationwide. Schools may offer Student Vote to a single class or to the entirety of the student body. Students engage in activities surrounding government and the electoral process and are provided necessary tools to stage a mock election in their school during the Federal Election process.

Joanne Bénard, Director of Education for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board is pleased with the enthusiasm that the schools have shown toward promoting student voice.

“Student voice is a top priority within our Board,” she explained. “Student Vote Canada is an excellent opportunity for our students to not only understand the electoral process, but to also practice research and analytical skills and participate in a formal election scenario. We are proud to partner with Student Vote Canada and offer these tools for our students.”
“St Charles College has been involved in Student Vote for many years. We have participated at the federal level as well as the provincial and municipal levels,” explained Rick Emond, teacher at S. Charles College. “The program has had a positive impact on students both academically and in their personal lives. I often receive many messages from former students telling me that because of the program they have voted.”

Attendance Awareness Poster winners announced!

Sudbury Catholic Schools and the Attendance Counsellors held the annual poster contest in October. In order to engage students from FDK to Grade 12, the poster contest promoted the importance of regular school attendance. It was a huge success with nearly 500 students participating!

Congratulations to this year’s winners!

1st Place: Tyson Kirk – St. Charles College
1st Place: Meah Sauve – St. Paul School
2nd Place: Ariel Groves – Bishop Alexander Carter C.S.S
2nd Place: Ciara Hamelin – Pius XII School
3rd Place: Anna Nguyen – St. Charles College C.S.S
3rd place: Peyton Desjardins – St. Charles Chelmsford 

First place posters will be reproduced and hung to promote attendance awareness! 

Student Senate at Sudbury Catholic Schools donates over 150 coats to those in need

The Student Senate at the Sudbury Catholic District School Board has given the gift of warmth this holiday season! The fundraising campaign was spearheaded by the Student Senate, which is comprised of 10 secondary students representing all four secondary schools in the Board. 

The group encouraged staff and students to donate clean, gently used coats of all sizes to families in need. Working with Derek Cashmore of Cooper Equipment Rentals, the coats will be donated to the N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre and then made available to those in need in our region and in other communities throughout Northern Ontario. The original ask was 100 coats, however the Sudbury Catholic School community surpassed that goal, donating over 150 coats and over 50 winter accessories including hats, scarves and mitts to help families stay warm this Winter.

“The Student Senate members are not just leaders in their schools, but leaders in the greater community,” said Amanda Barry, Teacher Facilitator of the Student Senate. “The students embody the Catholic Graduate Expectations and model stewardship through their actions and their love for others. They have more plans to serve the local community in 2019, so stay tuned!”

“The amount of spirit and compassion exemplified by everyone involved is truly breathtaking,” said Kira Gouchie, Student Trustee and member of the Student Senate. “It was so amazing to see all the students come together for a great cause during the holiday season.”

The Student Senate coat drive ran from November 19 – December 7, 2018. The group is hoping to make the drive an annual fundraiser as part of their Student Senate initiatives. 

BACCSS – Div.II Girls Volleyball Champions

Congratulations to the Jr. Girls Div II Volleyball team at Bishop Alexander Carter CSS. They defeated Marymount Academy in four sets to capture their first city championship title. They girls used their excellent teamwork and communication skills to win and bring home another city championship banner to hang in the gym.

BACCSS Student Following His Passion to Success

A teenager’s life is filled with many decisions. Choosing courses and a career destination can cause stressful situations, but as Alex Laurin leant, it is important to choose a career that you love to do. Alex, a grade 12 student at Bishop Alexander Carter, started his grade 9 year in the pathways program. He often thought about architecture and tried to upgrade a few classes but struggled, especially in math he said. Deep down he knew that university and college would not be his destination. It simply was not for him. Alex’s destination was the workplace.

Alex met with the guidance counsellor at the school, Heather Duguay, to explore career options. He loved the thought of being able to design things. With encouragement from Mrs. Duguay and his parents, he enroled in the Specialist High Skills Program (SHSM) in Manufacturing and Robotics in the school.

“I was surprised to find out I was really good at welding”, Alex explained. “I love to create and make things with my hands”.

Discovering his new talent, Alex set his own goals and discussed these with his parents. He felt that his parents were excited that he found his passion.

“My dad was really supportive of my career goals. They bought me my own welding mask and boots”.

Today, Alex is finishing his SHSM course and is completing his coop placement at Belanger construction. He is a registered OYAP (Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program) student through the MTCU (Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities) and a registered level 1 apprentice through the College of Trades. Alex has been a valuable asset to Belanger Construction and they encouraged him to write his Canadian Welding Bureau test (at the employer’s cost). Alex was successful in this test and has obtained his welding certificate in shielded metal arc welding. His advice for students, “Work hard and know what you are getting into and do your research into career option. But most of all, enjoy it!”.

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